Pfeifer retires as chief patrol agent of Swanton Sector

Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Pfeifer has retired from the U.S. Border Patrol, closing out a career that spanned 31 years.

“It has been my honor to serve as the Chief Patrol Agent for the past seven years,” said Pfeifer, who began his career in Uvalde, Texas, after entering on duty with the agency on Aug. 11, 1986, as a member of Academy Class 200. “I look forward to spending time with my family, knowing the men and women of the Swanton Sector continue the tradition of integrity, vigilance, and service to country that keeps the nation safe.”

Pfeifer served in a broad range of supervisory and management positions throughout his career, including service as a Special Agent with the Swanton Sector Anti-Smuggling Unit, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Newport Station, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent in Swanton Sector, Deputy Chief Patrol Agent in Rio Grande Valley Sector and Associate Chief at the United States Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Over the course of his career, Pfeifer received the Commissioner’s Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism, the Border Patrol Purple Cross Medal, a U.S. Congressional Law Enforcement Award, the Vermont State Police Purple Heart and the Combat Cross Ribbons and the New Hampshire State Police Medal of Merit.

The awards bestowed upon Pfeifer stemmed from his acts of heroism in the involvement of the 1997 Colebrook, New Hampshire, incident where Carl Drega killed four people.

Pfeifer was involved in the manhunt for Drega and was subsequently shot by him in a gunfight. Pfeifer recovered from his wounds and went on to continue his career in the Border Patrol for more than 20 years.